Subordinating Conjunctions
Spoken Description
Apprenez à identifier, conjugué et à insérer les conjonctions de subordination (parce que, lorsque, si, bien que, quoique, tandis que, même si, avant que) dans des phrases complexes. Exercices, exemples, et astuces pour améliorer votre écriture et votre compréhension orale.
Learn to identify, conjugate, and insert subordinating conjunctions ('because', 'when', 'if', 'although', 'whereas', 'even if', 'before') into complex sentences. Includes exercises, examples, and tips to improve your writing and listening comprehension.
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Subordinating conjunctions link a dependent clause to a main clause and often trigger specific moods or tenses in French. This guide covers the most common subordinating conjunctions with examples to illustrate their typical use.
Key Conjunctions
Here are some of the most frequent subordinating conjunctions that introduce time, cause, purpose, condition, and concession.
| French | English | |
|---|---|---|
| parce que | because | |
| quand | when | |
| puisque | since | |
| bien que | although / even though | |
| afin que | so that | |
| avant que | before | |
| de sorte que | so that / in such a way that | |
| tandis que | while | |
| depuis que | since (time) | |
| chaque fois que | each time that | |
| chaque fois qu' | each time that | |
| alors que | while / whereas | |
| dès que | as soon as | |
| aussitôt que | as soon as | |
| lorsque | when | |
| parce que | because | |
| puisque | since | |
| comme | as / since | |
| puisque | since | |
| dès que | as soon as | |
| avant de | before (when followed by an infinitive) | |
| pour que | so that | |
| à condition que | provided that | |
| en attendant que | while waiting for / until |
Mood
Subordinating conjunctions often determine whether the dependent clause uses the indicative, subjunctive, or sometimes the infinitive. The indicative is used for facts and certainty, while the subjunctive expresses doubt, desire, necessity, or concession.
Time Clauses
Conjunctions like quand, lorsque, dès que, aussitôt que, tandis que, depuis que, and chaque fois que introduce time clauses that situate an action relative to another. They are typically followed by the indicative when the event is presented as factual.
Cause Clauses
Conjunctions such as parce que, puisque, and comme introduce cause clauses that explain the reason for an action. These clauses normally use the indicative because they state a cause that is considered real or certain.
Purpose Clauses
Conjunctions like pour que, afin que, and de sorte que introduce purpose clauses that express intention or goal. These are usually followed by the subjunctive when the outcome is desired rather than guaranteed. When followed by que, they trigger the subjunctive.
Concession Clauses
Conjunctions like bien que, quoique, and même si introduce concession clauses that acknowledge a contrasting fact. These clauses typically use the subjunctive after bien que and quoique, while même si is followed by the indicative.
Condition Clauses
Conjunctions such as à condition que, pourvu que, and si introduce condition clauses that set requirements for an action. Those introduced by à condition que and pourvu que trigger the subjunctive, while si is followed by the indicative or conditional depending on context.
Infinitive Clauses
Some expressions like avant de, afin de, and pour are followed by the infinitive when there is no change of subject. They allow more concise sentences by avoiding a subordinate clause.
Summary
Subordinating conjunctions organize ideas of time, cause, purpose, condition, and concession and set the mood of the dependent clause. Learn key conjunctions in each category and practice the typical use of indicative, subjunctive, and infinitive to sound natural.
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